By james w



Dec. 4, 1928. 1,693,650

A. LA'TH M SUPPLYING APPARAT S Original Filed June 26. 1920 2 s g 1 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 4, 1928.

A. LATHAM' SUPPLYING APPARATUS Original Filed June 26. 1920 novitti 0 W"mm v m Patented Dec. 4,1928;

oNiTsn STATES I ew PATENT i-rics;

ALBERT LA'IHAM, DECEASED, LATE OF EVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, BY JAMES w.

NOUBBOURN, or SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ADMINISTRATOR,- AssireNoRv TO.AMERIoAN BUTTON & EASTENER 00., OF AUGUSTA, MAINE,- A oORPORATIoN OEMAINE,

SUPPLYING APPARATUS.

Original application filed June 26, 1820, Serial No. 391,908. Dividedand this application filed August 4;

1925. Serial No. 48,084.

This invention relates to apparatusv for supplying various objects tomachines for operating upon them,-it being of particular 7 utility asapplied to the feeding of buttons to such an attaching machine as thatdescribed in the application for Letters Patent of the United Statesfiled in the name of Albert Lathannon June 26, 1920, and bearing theSerial Number 391,908, of which the present application is a division.

An object of the invention is to effect delivery of the articles in apositive and regu-' lar manner, assuring an unfailing supply at themachine fed. This end is attained by V 5 combining in a novel mannerwith an objectcontainer a receiver, from which may lead a raceway orother conveyor for objects,

there being means between which and the container'there is a relativemovement serving to deliver objects from the container to toe receiverand from the receiver to the conveyor. The delivering means, which maybe furnished by one or more carriers, is preferably arranged to engageindividual objects and to .move in the container as through the bottomthereof, the carriers being shown as pins-operating in openings in thecontainer-bottom, and adapted to'enter button-eyes. Associated with thecarriers may be means for positioning the objects upon them inpreparation for their delivery. As disclosed, there is provided meansfor raising the pins to engage the Objects, and means for imparting tothem a compound lateral movement to carry the objects outwardly and turnthem upon the pins so that they will be ready for delivery. Obviously,in certain aspects of the invention, it is immaterial whether or notthere be a receiver independent of the associated elements. i V f In theaccompanying drawings, a particular embodiment of the invention isillustrated in connection with a portion of the machine of theapplicationabove mentioned, which is for attaching buttons by means ofstaples passed through the eyes.

In Fig. 1, the supplying apparatus, to-

gether with the associated attaching machine, appears in partial sideelevation;

Fig. 2 is a detail in side elevation of the adjusting means for theguideway or receiver; Fig. 3 shows the supplying apparatus in sectionalperspective;

Fig. 4is a central vertical section through said apparatus; and

Fig; 5 is an enlarged sectional detail taken through one side of thesupplying apharatus.v 6

- A frame 10, which may carry. setting mechanism 11 and controllingmechanism 12 for the fastenings to be attached, together with theactuating means therefor, supports a raceway13 for the feeding orsupplying 5 mechanism of the present invention, this last-mentionedmechanism delivering buttons to the controllingmechanism; A'raceway 14is also illustrated for staples to befdelivered to the controllingmechanism for association with the buttons which they are to secure. Thesetting, controlling and staple-feeding mechanisms will not be funtherconsidered, not being essential to this invention. A I A Thebutton-raceway includes an inclined slot-30 extending laterally inahorizontal direction and servingto receive the buttoneyes, while agroove 32' formed just below i this cooperates with the heads of thebut; tons. One wall of the groove '32 is furnished by an extendeddepression in the frame, while theopposite wall is provided by a plate3% attached to the frame by screws 36 passing through vertical slots 38upper portion of the frame, and having an inclined bottom-walldelivering through a throat 44 into a cylindrical receptacle container46. Surrounding the upper poi.- tion of the container and joined to theupper end of the button-raceway 13 is a re ceiver or guidevvay 48, theinner v-rall 0' which is furnished by the edge 50 or the container. mayconsist 01' a cylindrical casing F2 .urveu inwardly at 5% over ashoulder at ot' the container into proximity ivit Wall 50. There is thusi ned an annular g oove in which the buttono l for movement vithrelatively tion, and with the button-eyes o er top of the edge 50. To soarran: engaging edge of the groove th t t may be supported to the bestadv their travel along the racewav. of the groove may be varied bylowering the casing by means 0'.- 56 2) threaded through a iu jectingoutwardly from the top 0*: ing and contacting with a bra chet 00 uponthe frame. To guide the ca movement of adiustinent there is a pin 62rising from the top of the l and extending through an opening: lug 58.Qbviously, it buttons with l of small diameter to be t will be raised sothat the groove wiil lie nearer the top 0- 50 than it the heads are ofgreater dial To transfer buttons from the mass in the container to thereceiver, elevating or car- P rier members in the term of pins 0%movable through a circular series of open ings 66 in the outer portionof the bottom ot the container towarc Which'openings this bottom-Wall ininclined at The pins are respectively fixed to the upwardly exten armsof a corresponding series 01' bell-crank levers 70 having pivot pins 72movable through pairs of radial, horizontal slots 74 near the peripheryof a supporting member power and not herein illustrated. A.

a longitudinal shaft 98, W

or head 76. This head is axed upon the lower extremity of a vertical rod78 passing through the bottom of the container and end of a: bar 82arranged to reciprocate verti'cally in Ways in the frame. The barcontains in its lower portion a transverse opening st to receive therounded end of 86 pivoted at 8 upon the frame. lated to this'lever is alink 90 tuiM' he pin of a err. end of a short shaft 9% jouinalec verselyat the bottom of the frame. shaft is connected by spiral gearihich 1united through spur-gearing O actuating mechanism of the inachinmechanisn may include a. sin clutch rotated from any sui able source 0crank-disk 92 turns, it oscillates the lever 8 and re iprocates the bar82 thus raising and l i 3 or the drawings, in Wl ich the reducet pc isare just below the rope or the o1 enings 66 in the bottom 0." l econtainer, to the positions appearing 5. in which said points are eredge or the wall 50 in ertain number the pins .y or buttons lying in a bbottom oi? tie containe", and elevate them to points obey the receiviggroove 4&8. Each of the bell-er like 7 a horiz ntal arm rounded t i i ii f c or surface of a sleeve 118 movable vert llv Withir c d o dindri al9X 1 tel sion in The travel 1. this sleeve 10- ie container is limitedby a flanged ring 122 screwed upon the bottom si-on vvnile its upwarc1noverrested by 1 in depending from Oi the contain r. r oiined at inc 1tion shown in Fig. 4c of the levers O approacl which the points areabove the b1 ceivlng groove 48. The frictional engagei the cam 1 3156:the tor'aer is ment of the lovers Wi sleeve viith the head until thestopped by contact with th pinlQx travel, the levers pass rida'e 131between 5-1% depression 123i and depressions under springs 11 i, t1 thanthat in the opposite (llFQCLZOR the surt'ac 128. T the pins is thuscompo tion with a short, H

abrupt lateral movement of the ed le by their stri a h le 'es ride overbeloiv top quentiy. the buttons dor' by contact with said vva 8 is ananwhich lie above been accomplished, the sleeve strikes the stop-ring122, and, the movement or" the head continuing, the levers 7O ride outof the depressions, straightening the pins, which continue theirmovement to the normal position.-

. For the purpose of conveying buttons from the receiving guideway 48into the raceway 13, there is provided a member revoluble over saidguideway and movable into and out co-operation therewith. Preferably,this member is operable with the elevating pins. To this end, there isformed upon the rod 78 a helix 132, and'surrounding this is aninternally threaded plate 134. The plate bears upon its upwardly andoutwardly inclined periphery 136 a series of groups of bristles or likeflexible members 138, the ends of ward movement of the plate 134 islimited by a vertical sleeve 1&0 located at the center of the bottom ofthe container and serving also as a guide for the red 78. As theelevating pins are raised by the head, the brush men'iber 138 is carriedaway from the guideway by the cylindrical portion ofthe rod at the lowerend of the helix.

tons along the guideway intothe raceway 13, which merges tangentiallyinto said guideway. 1, Down the raceway the buttons slide to thecontrolling mechanism 12.

Ha ing thus described the invention, what claimed as new and desired tobe secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a supply apparatus, a container for objects, a conveyor associatedwith the container, a carrier arranged to engage objects in thecontainerand hold them independently of said container, means for moving the.container and carrier relatively to deliver objects from the containerand to free them a raceway leading tromgthe receiver, an object-carrieroperating in the container, means tormoving the container and carrierrelatively to elevate objects irom the rent iner, means for'moving thecarrier in a ditlerent direction to deliver the elevated objects thereceiver, and means for removing the objects from the receiver to theraceway. I a r 3 In a supplying apparatus, an objectthe guideway.Thefdowit,

container, a receiver associated with the container, anobject-carrierentering the container for each carrying operation, means for moving thecontainer and carrier relatively to deliver objects trom the containerto the receiver, and means for removing the objects from the receiver,there being prothe, ob ectreinoving I.

vision for shifting means into and out of co-op-eration with thereceiver.

l. In a supplying apparatus, an objectcontainer, a receiver surroundingthe container, an object-carrier operating in the COQ BZLlIlGlQlBQZLDSfor moving the container and carrier relatively to deliver objects fromthe COIltZllIlGI' tO the receiver, and removing means acting to moveobjects circumferen-.,

tially of the receiver.

5. In a supply apparatus, an ob ectcontainer, a receiver associated withthe container, a raceway leading trointhe receiver, an object-carrieroperating nlthe container,

ineans'for moving the container and carrier relat vely to deliver obects trom the container to the receiver, and means for chang-' carrierto points above the receiver in preparation.

tle

ing the positions of objects upon for such delivery; y Y

6. in a supplying apparatus, an ob ectcontarnena receiver associatedwith the container, an ob ect-carrier operating in the container, meansfor moving the container and carrier relatively to deliver objects fromthe container to the receiver, and means acting upon the carrier forpositioning the obj ects circuinferentially of the carrier for suchdelivery. V 7. In a supplying apparatus, an objectcontainer, receiverassociated with the container, a conveyor leading from the receiver, anob ect-carrier operating in the container,

means for reciprocating the container and carrier relatively to deliverobjects from the container to the receiver, and means rotatable underthe influence of the relative movement for removing the objects from thereceiver to the conveyor. v

8. In a supplyingapparatus, an object container, a receiver associatedwith the container, a raceway leading fr an objectcarrier entering thecontainer,

1 means torinoving the container and carrier relatively to deliverobjects from the container to the receiveiy and means operablev underthe influence of the relative movement for removing objects from thereceiver to the raceway, there also being provision whereby in thereceiver,

suchunovemcnt shifts the object-removing means into and out of coojierationwith the receiver. v

9. in a suppl ing appaiawis. an ob ec container, a receiverco-operating, with a wall of the container for the support of objects,means arranged to vary the'rela tion between the container and receiverand to hold them in such relation against movement, an objectcarrieroperating in the container, and means for moving the container and carrelatively to deliver objects from the container to the receiver.

10. In a supplying apparatus, an objectcontainer, a receiver associatedwith the container, a raceway leading from the receiver, a ca. rierarranged to engage an individual object in the container, means formodng the ccnlaincr and ca ri r relatively to deliver obj :ts from thecontainer to the receiver, and a member movable through the receiver andarranged to deliver objects therefrom to the raceway.

11. in a suiplying apparatus, an objectcontainer, receiver associatedwith the container, a carrier arranged to engage an individual object ina mass in the container and hold it alone in preparation for delivery,means for moving the container and carrier relatively in one directionto position each object after engagement for ceivory to the receiver,and means for moving the container and carrier relatively in ano herdirection to deliver each object held from the carrier to the receiver.

12. in a supplying apparatus, an objectcontainer, a receiver associatedwith the container, an object-carrier projecting through the bottom thecon ner, means for moving the carrier to de er objects from thecontainer to the receiver, and means movable over the receiver todeliver objects therefrom. 13. In a supplying apparatus, anobjectcontainer, a receiver associated with the container, a racewayleading from the receiver, an object-carrier projecting through the bottom of the container, means for moving the carrier to deliver objectsfrom the container to the receiver, and means operated by the movementof the carrier to transfer objects from the receiver to the raceway.

1 1-. in a supplying apparatus, a container for objects, means movableto elevate the objects in the container, means operating at thecompletion of the elevating movement for moving the elevating means inthe dielivery otthe objects from the :i0 prepare for such delivery, and"or effecting the delivery of the objcctx thus prepared.

15. in supplying appartus, a container or objects, deliver-in meansmovable verical in the contair =1, and means operatthe completion of thevertical movelt for moving the delivering means to ward the outside ofthe container, delivery thereafter being effected by further verticalmovement of said delivering means.

i 16. In a supplying apparatus, a container for objects to be operatedon, delivering means movable in the container, means for imparting tothe delivering means an objectdelivering movement, and means for movingthe delivering means to position objects thereon, delivery thereafterbeing eliected by the movement of said delivering means.

17. In a supplying apparatus, container for objects, delivering meansmovable vertically in the container, and means for imparting to thedelivering means a compound lateral movement at different speeds and forthereafter producing a delivering movement.

18. The combination with an object-container, of a reciproeator head, anobjectdelivering pin movable by the head t irough the bottom of thecontainer and being also movable upon said head.

19. The combination with an object-container, of an object-deliveringpin movable through the bottom of the container, and means foroscillating the pin at a particular portion only of such movement.

20. The combination with an objectcontainer, of anobject-delivering pinmovable in the container, and means for swinging the point of the pintoward the-outside ot' the container at the termination only of thedelivering movement.

21. The combination with an object-container, of an object-deliveringpin movable in the container, and means for swinging the point of thepin the container, tuere being oscillation imparted to the sin in theswinging movement.

22. The combinationwith an object-container, of an object-delivering pinmovable in the container, and means for swinging the point of the pintoward the outside of the container, there being an abrupt oscillationimparted to the pin at the termination of the swinging movement,

23. In a supplying apparatus, container, delivering means operating inthe container, means for reciprocating the delivering means in thecontainer, and means for moving the delivering means laterally in thecontainer during its travel in one direction, said means being arrangedto cause a reverse lateral movement beginning only after a portion ofthe travel in the other direction has occurre l.

2 1 In a supplying apparatus, a cont; deliverin means operating in thecontainer, means for reciprocating the delivering means vertically inthe container, and means for moving the delivering means toward theoutside of the container at the completionot its upward movement, saidmoving means being arranged to cause the movement of the deliveringmeans inwardly after a certain descent thereof.

25. in a supplying apparatus, a container, a delivering pin operating inthe container, means for reciprocating the vertically in the container,and means for swinging the upper extremity of the pin toward the outsideof the container and above its top, said means being ar 'anged to causethe pin to swing inwardly j only when the upper extremityis below thetop of the container.

26. The combination with a receptacle for objects, of a guidewaysurrounding the receptacle, araceway connected to the guideway, meansfor elevating objects from the reway, means for delivering objects fromthe, receptacle to the guideway, and a flexible i member revoluble abovethe guideway for contact with the objects therein.

28. The combination with a receptacle for objects; of a' guidewaysurrounding the receptacle, a raceway connected-to the guideway, meansfor delivering objects from the receptacle to the guideway, and a membercontacting with the objects in the guideway to move them into theraceway, there being provision for moving the member toward and from theguideway.

29. The combination with a cylindrical receptacle for objects to beoperated on, of a guideway surrounding the upper portion oi thereceptacle, an inclined raceway connected to the guideway, means fordelivering objects from the receptacle to the guideway, a verticallymovable spindle extending through the receptacle, object-deliveringmeans mounted on the spindle, and a member carried by said spindle forcontact with the objects in the guideway.

30. The combination with a cylindrical receptacle for objects to beoperated on, of a guideway surrounding the upper portion of thereceptacle, an inclined raceway connected to the guideway, means fordelivering objects from the receptacleto the guideway,

a vertically movable spindle extending through the receptacle and havinga helical portion, obj cot-delivering means connected to the spindle,and a member arranged to rotate upon the helical portion of the spindleand to contact with objects in theguideway,

31. The combination with a cylindrical receptacle for objects to beoperated upon, a guideway surrounding the upper portion of thereceptacle, an'inclined raceway connected to the'guideway, means fordelivering ob jects from the receptacle to the guideway, verticallymovable spindleextending through the receptacle and having a helicalportion, object-delivering means connected to the spindle, and. a memberarranged to rotate upon the helical portion of the spindle for contactwith objects in the receiver and to be carried by said spindle during aportion 32. In a supplying apparatus, a container for ObJGCtS tO beoperated-upon, a receiver surrounding the container, there being betweenthe container and receiver a wall common to both, means for transferringobjects from the container to the receiver,"a'nd means arrange-d to movethe eontainerand receiver relatively to vary the effective depth of saidIQCGlVQI. l

33. The combination with a button-container, of pins movable in thecontainer and formed to enter button-eyes, means for'moving the pins todeliver the buttons from the,

container, and means for moving said pins to position buttons thereon inpreparation for delivery. v V 34. "The combination with abutton-container provided-in the bottom with openings, or" pins movablethrough the openings and formed to enter button-eyes, and means formoving the pins to produce contact of the buttons with the container. 1

The combination with a button-container provided in the bottom withopenings,

of pins movable through the openings and formed to enter button-eyes,and means for elevatlng the pins, moving them toward the outside of thecontainer and lowering said pins to transfer buttons from. the containerand i'reethem for delivery by then contact with said container. a i

36. The combination with a button-coni tainer providedin the bottom withopenings of pins movable through the openings andtormed to enterbutton-eyes, means for eleating the pins, and means traveling with thepins tomove them toward the outside of the container. 7

37. The combination with a button-container provided in the bottom withopenings,

of a reciprocatory head beneath the-container, pins pivoted upon thehead and proj ecting through the openings, a cam arranged to act uponthe pins to turn them upon their pivots, said cam being movable withthepins, and a receiver to which the pins deliver,

39. The combination with a button-container, of a guideway surroundingthe container and arranged to support buttons with the eyes resting uponthe edge of said guideway, a raceway communicating with the 'guideway,and means arranged to enter the buttoneyes for transferring buttonsfrom;

the container to the guideway.

lO. Thecombination with a lOUttOIl-COI1 tainer, of a guidewaysurrounding the container andarranged to support buttons with the eyesresting upon the edge of said guide way, means movable over the guidewayfor carrying buttons therefrom to the raceway, and means arranged toengage the buttoneyes for transferring objects from the container to theguideway.

41. The combination with a button-container having openings in thebottom, of a guideway surrounding the upper portion of the container andarranged to support buttons with the eyes resting upon the edge of saidguideway, and pins movable through the openings in the container andarranged to enter the button-eyes and transfer the buttons to theguideway.

42. The combination with a button-container having openings in thebottom, of a guideway surrounding the upper portion of the container, araceway communicating with the guideway, a member movable in proximityto the container, pins mounted on said member and operating through theconthe the the tamer-openings to transfer buttons to guideway, and.means movable with member for carrying the pins from guideway to theraceway.

as. The combination with a button-container having openings in thebottom, of a guideway surrounding the upper portion of the container, araceway communicating with the guideway, a member movable in proximityto the container and having a helical portion, pins mounted on saidmember and operating through the container openings to transfer buttonsto the guideway, and a brush rotatable upon the helical portion of themember in contact with the buttons in the guideway.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JAJMES WV. NOURBOURN, i idmiaist'mior of the Estate of Albert Latham,Deceased.

